Chapter 2: The Substitute

The day after we had learned about the new [Guardian] piece started off pretty normal. I woke up on the floor next to my bed that again had girls all over it. Although this time Xenovia wasn't there which got me thinking, Who the hell kicked me off the bed!? As I went to grab the doorknob to leave my room it got swung open from the other side which caused me to slip and fall onto the person that opened the door. When I opened my eyes I saw a pair of oppai along with a familiar voice.

"I-Ise what are you doing?"

It was my manager, Ravel Pheonix.

"Oh hi Ravel-"

I quickly realised that I was on top of her and got up immediately.

"I-I'm so sorry, please forgive me"

"No it was my fault, I..i should've been more careful"

Ravel said it with a red face and I helped her up as she continued.

"I was coming to see if you were awake. Because you didn't wake up at the normal time"

Oh crap! I was so routine with being kicked off my bed that I didn't realise the alarm had gone off. I quickly got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen as I always do. But as I was making my breakfast I heard a faint splash sound coming from basement which is where the underground swimming pool is located. When I got down there I saw Xenovia doing laps in the pool. I watched for a bit until she noticed me and stopped. She got out of the pool to reveal that she was wearing a basically see through bikini.

"Hey X-Xenovia. W-what are you wearing? No! I mean, what are you doing in the pool so early in the morning?"

Xenovia giggled as she came over to me and put her towel around her.

"I'm practising for the Athletics swimming competition. I want to beat Irina once and for and prove myself as the best woman athlete in the Kuoh Academy"

Oh. that was an unusually normal reply. Usually she would say something related to baby making.

"And of course, if I win, Irina will be forced to give me the doorknob to the room that Michael gave her. After an argument between me and her, we decided that a bet would be put in place. If I win, I get to use the doorknob and vice versa"

Aaaand there's the erotic comment that was missing. But wait a minute, don't I get a say in this?! iIt's my body after all!

"Hang on a second Xenovia, d-don't I get a say in this?"

"Alright then, have your say"

"…"

Welp, she got me there. I was not expecting to actually be able to have a say so I just sat there in confusion. Xenovia giggled again and asked me something else.

"So now that your know the terms, who are you rooting for?"

W-w-w-what? Rooting for? I don't know? Both! Neither! I can't decide. At that moment, Irina came down and saw the two of us.

"Waah! Xenovia! That's not fair! You promised that we would decide who gets Ise after the race"

Irina then ran up to me and hugged me tightly.

"Don't worry Darling, I will beat Xenovia and then we can finally use the baby making without any interuptions"

Irina says that with very high hopes. Damn it! I still don't know who to root for now. I guess I can just worry about that when the time comes. Once everyone was ready we set out for the school. Just as we entered the school grounds I felt a very strange feeling go down my spine. Rias noticed my change of expression.

"Ise what's wrong"

Just as she said it everyone else got the same feeling. And all our senses were immediately put on alert.

"What was that feeling?"

"Something's telling me that today won't be a normal day"

Akeno and Kiba shared their thoughts as well as Gasper and Koneko

"W-what's happening?"

"…Could it be the person that's targeting the school?"

Everyone was looking around the campus to see if they could find anything suspicious. Looks like Rossweisse's worries were about to come true. Rias then answered Koneko's question.

"Possibly, but no matter what I want everyone to be on the lookout for anything peculiar. Got it?

We all nodded our heads in agreement as we headed to class. As the day went by I had my eye on anything and everything that looked unusual or suspicious. I did see one person wearing a coat leaning against a tree during lunch but that turned out to be the First years science teacher Mr. Nagano. At my last class of the day I walked into my classroom with my guard down. I sat on my chair at the back of the classroom as always and went into thought. I could've sworn something was going to happen today. As the lesson started the teacher spoke up.

"Good afternoon everyone. Your normal teacher is out sick today so I will be taking todays lesson"

As soon as I heard that voice I knew who it was. That voice belonged to someone who I've hated since the moment I laid eyes on them. A voice that irritated me every time they spoke. That voice belonged to none other than former church exorsist Freed.

"Ahem, now let's begin with todays lesson about-"

I almost couldn't believe it. Freed was really alive? But how? I thought we had defeated him once and for all back when I first activated [Juggernaut Drive]. He hadn't laid eyes on me yet. I was hoping that this was some figment of my imagination but as much as it pained me to believe, Freed was really here and he was about to cause trouble. I really wanted to notify Rias but I can't do that infront of all my fellow students. I took a quick look behind me and noticed that Asia had also realised who it was and was looking at me with a worried face. She also wanted to notify Rias but was unable to do it because then our identities would be revealed. So instead of panicking I just stayed calm listened but I kept my eyes on Freed the whole time. He was most likely going to do something soon. A couple of minutes went by and he didn't show any signs of attacking, Though I still didn't let my guard down. Then, Half way through the lesson, He stopped drawing on the board and spoke.

"Class dismissed, everyone except Mr. Hyoudou and Miss. Argento may leave"

PART 2

Everyone in the class stared at him in confusion, and then stared at me and Asia. Eventually, someone spoke up.

"B-but sir, class doesn't end until the bell rings."

After a student said that, Freed turned around and revealed eyes that were blood red and shining. He stared at me and shouted.

"I said Class Dissmissed!"

As he said that he summoned a massive wind gust and blew all of us to the back of the room. Lots of people started running out of the room screaming. After a minute or two it was just me and Asia in the room.

"Well, well. If it isn't the perverted Sekiryuutei and the bitch from the church. I had a feeling that you guys would be here."

Freed said that with that irritating voice of his.

"No games now Freed, I want to know why you're here targeting the school. Or how you're alive in the first place"

I really wanted to summon my Sacred gear but there were many students watching from the classroom window. I turned to Asia.

"Asia"

"I know, we can't fight him like we normally do. But I don't know any other way we can defeat him"

Looks like she knew what I was going to say. To be expected from my cute little Asia. But she was right. There is no way we can defeat him unless we reveal our devil powers to the students of the school. I looked at Freed with eyes of hatred.

"Freed, your evil doings in this world are over! Prepare to get hammered!"

Freed just laughed as he pulled out a shiny staff from behind the teachers desk. Both me and Asia were shocked when we saw it.

"Like what you see? Ha! With this holy spear I will kill all the devils of the Gremory group and become the most powerful demon who ever lived. And right after I've killed the Sekiryuutei I will rip off the bitch's head and devour her insides!"

"Go eat a bag of dicks!"

I yelled at him but in return I got a lightning fast punch to the face which threw me back against the wall. He then grabbed Asia by the throat and lifted her in the air.

"Change of plans, I'll just kill the bitch Now!"

He said as he pointed his Holy spear to her throat. I couldn't just sit there and watch her die, I would never forgive myself. So, despite being watched by all the second years and teachers, I summoned my Sacred gear to my hand.

"I don't care if the world finds out that I'm a devil. I will never let you hurt Asia! She's like a sister to me so don't you dare lay a finger on her again!"

I said as I lunged forward, I went to thrust my fist into his face but he just stopped it with his hand. I was speechless. The Freed that we know was never this strong. He must've been training ever since we defeated him in the underworld.

"Don't think for a second that I am as weak as before. With my power I could take on the whole Gremory group and still win!"

He sure knows how to be cocky. His grab on my hand was too strong for me to pull away, so he lifted me up with left hand while still having Asia in his right hand and after summoning a gust of wind, he thrusted me through the roof. After most of the smoke cleared I look around and saw Rias and Akeno who were staring at me like I had just blown up the earth.

"Um, I can explain-"

I started but my sentence was interuppted by Freed who came flying up through the hole and summoned a gust of wind that blew all the students of that third year class to the back of the class. However, Rias and Akeno summond a magic barrier to protect them from the wind gust.

"Everyone, if you value your lives leave the room now!"

Rias said that with a booming voice which everyone obeyed immediately. Freed then appeared behind us with Asia still in his hand.

"Ah. If it isn't Princess Rias Gremory, it's a pleasure to meet you once again"

"I don't have time to talk Freed, put down my servant now or suffer the consequences"

Rias replied in a fighting tone. Akeno picked me up out of the hole as I started my countdown for my Balance breaker.

{Boost!]

"Fine, I'll drop her-"

He said as he threw Asia towards Rias. But he charged just as she caught her.

"-As long as I get to kill you!"

He hit Rias and Asia with his holy spear to the side and they went flying through the classroom window. However. Koneko, who was just outside at that time, caught them. I could tell by their expression that both Rias and Asia were in pain but they both stood right back up. Asia was clearly nearing her limit but Rias still had some juice left in the tank. Akeno then transformed into her Miko attire and started to summon her Holy Lightning

"My my, You've been naughty haven't you. It's time to learned how to stay dead"

She said with her ususal smile as she hurled her Holy Lightning at Freed. The attack looked like a perfect hit but, to Akeno's surprise, Freed then came shooting out from the smoke unharmed and sent a punch her way. Kiba saw it at the last second and sliced down on Freeds arm, cutting it clean off. Freed jumped back and we all took battle stance towards him. But again he just laughed.

"It would seem that you puny devils still under-estimate me"

He spoke as a his wound started to glow and with a small flash, his arm was back. We were all speechless as he stared at us with extremely confident eyes. He was right about one thing, He was definitely way stronger than before. Which meant that we'll have to be at the top of our game.

[Boost!]

That's it! The countdown's done. Now time to transform!

[Balance Breaker!]

"Suck on this, Dick!"

I thrusted my fist towards him at super sonic speed but he dodged it and instead sent his into my lower abdomen.

"Gahk!"

I spat out a ton of blood. Seriously, how strong did he get?! As he turned to me and laughed Koneko leaped through the broken window and aimed a massive kick to his face. Her attack landed and he lost his footing.

"Gasper! Use your sacred gear to freeze him in time! Quickly!"

"Oh o-okay"

Gasper attempted to use his sacred gear [Forbidden Balor View] which completely freezes anything he looks at on Freed but it didn't work.

"It's not working! I'm so sorry Rias!"

"Don't worry Gasper, we'll just have to find another way to defeat him"

Rias attempted to reassure him but Gasper kept on crying. As soon as Freed regained his footing he knee'd Koneko in the face and grabbed her.

"That's quite the foot you've got there now let's see if it can take a fall!"

He hurled Koneko out the other Classroom window. She hit the campus grounds with a thud. I stood up and looked at him with fiery eyes.

"You! How dare you hurt Koneko. You'll pay for that! Mode Change! Welsh Dragonic Rook"

As I said it my armour grew bigger all over, thus increasing my Offense and Defense. I Charged towards Freed with my right fist raised aiming for his face. but as he went to block I quickly pulled back my arm and sent my lowered Left arm in his abdomen. Freed vomited out blood as he went flying through the wall into the next classroom.

I Thrusted myself into the same room and prepared another punch. But as I did he just dissapeared. I stopped in confusion.

"Ise! Look out!"

Freed reappeared behind me and went to thrust his Holy Spear through my stomach from behind but luckily, thanks to the warning from Rias, I was able to dodge most of it. The Holy Spear hit the very side of my armour and just barely scraped my skin. However, it was still a Holy Spear. I closed my eyes and fell on my knees in agony.

"It's no use trying to get back up, A holy spear does critical damage to devils. You should feel lucky, had my attack landed where it was aimed then you would probaby be dead."

He was right, if that attack had peirced my stomach and gone through then I would be in pain equal to that of being burned alive. Once I eventually opened my eyes I noticed that Freed was gone and so was everyone else except for Asia and Irina.

PART 3

"Where d-did everyone go"

I asked them. Irina answered as Asia started healing my wound.

"Freed went to the roof and so everyone else followed him. Oh darling, I'm so glad you're okay"

Irina said that as she hugged me. Asia looked at me with teary eyes.

"Yes, I was afraid that you or unconcious. Or even worse."

"Geez, you sound like I was out for while."

I said that sarcastically but I got a legitimate reply from Irina.

"You were, you've been out for almost an hour"

Really?! That can't be right. It didn't even feel like an hour had gone by.

"But how, it didn't feel like that long at all"

Just then, a communication circle appeared next to my ear. It was Rias trying to contact me.

"Ise! Ise, are you there?"

Her voice had sort of crying tone to it.

"Yeah I'm here, what's up? What happened to Freed?"

"Ise! You need to get out of the school now!"

Irina and Asia looked at me weirdly

"W-why? What happened?"

"Freed is above the school and has summoned a massive ball of destruction. He's about to blow up the school with it! Ise, you need to get out of there!"

I very quickly got on my feet and, along with Irina and Asia, Ran for the door. But then I heard Rias scream.

"Ise!"

That could only mean one thing. We probably had only a couple of seconds till the school got blown up so in a desperate attempt to survive I grabbed onto Irina and Asia with each of my arms, got a run up and Jumped as hard and as far as I could through the window. As the ball of destruction hit the school I held both of them close to me as to shield them from the blast. As soon as the blast hit we went flying into the side of a nearby building. I shielded both Irina and Asia and received all the damage. However, my body was about to shut down so with what little energy I had left, I flew down to the ground and let go of them both. Once I confirmed their safety I fell face first on the floor with no signs of movement.

PART 3.5

I, Rias Gremory, watched as the school I'd known my whole life was blown to bits. I heard a loud thud over to my right and saw Irina and Asia kneeling down against Ise's unconcious body. I ran over to his side.

"Ise! Ise, are you okay?!"

I didn't get a reply. While in tears I put my head against his chest hoping to hear a sign of life.

….

-Beat.

I sighed with intense relief knowing that he was still alive. However, it'll be a while before he wakes up. I looked over to where the Kuoh academy use to be and saw nothing but a large crater filled with small piece's of infrastucture that somehow survived the blast. I then saw Freed come down from the sky. The rest of us who weren't hurt or unconcious took battle stance again.

"I must congratulate you all, you have definitely performed above my expectations. However, despite your strength neither of you have the power to defeat me."

Freed laughed once more as he said it. Kiba then clutched his fist and pointed his sword at Freed.

"Don't think for one second that we will let you live after what you've done to our school"

Xenovia also had Durandal pointed at him.

"You have hurt two of my most important friends, and blown up the only school I've ever known. You deserve to die!"

With that, Kiba and Xenovia lunged toward Freed. They went for a dual attack but they were both blocked by Freed's Holy Spear. Freed then used a gust of wind to throw the two of them back.

"Try as hard as you can, you cannot defeat the new Freed. I am Unstoppable!"

"Think Again!"

A new voice that no one recognized showed up. We all turned around to see who it was. Standing there, with his fist pointed towards Freed was a young boy, possibly Ise's age maybe a year younger. He had short black scruffy hair and wore the Kuoh Academy boys uniform. All of us were in shock at seeing a random on the battlefield.

"What do you think you're doing here!?"

I shouted at him.

"Attempting to save you. What else would I be doing"

he replied with a smirk on his face

"But a normal being like you won't be of much help. You're not even suppose to see this!"

"Geez, thanks for the support"

He looked back towards Freed with determined eyes. It was then I noticed something about him. He was definitely not like other humans. He was hiding something.

"Gah! Insolent human. I will finish you off now."

Freed went speeding towards him with his Holy Spear but as he went to attack, there was a bright flash. When the light died down I saw Freed's move had been blocked. And the unknown boy was holding a large sword with a Holy aura surrounding it.

"W-w-what! Impossible!"

Freed, for the first time, sounded like he was in trouble. The boy put on a determined smile.

"That's what you get for under-estimating someone."

The boy then lunged toward Freed and attacked. Freed parried his attack but the boy very quickly recovered and sliced downwards. Cutting off Freed's arm. Freed just laughed.

"You are quick boy, but yo-"

The boy then sliced at Freed countless times while his guard was down, not giving him any time to talk. He sliced and sliced and just kept on cutting Freed into pieces.

All of us just stared in astonishment. Once the boy was done attacking he jumped back and made is sword dissapear.

"Now, time to make sure you don't come back!"

The boy shouted as he put his left hand on his upper right arm and squeezed. All of a sudden a huge amount of aura came from his right arm and his whole arm up to the part where he was squeezing it was completely surrounded by fire.

"Feel the power of Fire!"

He lunged at Freed and aimed his fiery fist.

[Sixty Percent!]

Those words boomed as he hit Freed dead on which created a small crater below them. He then shouted

"Fire Burst!"

And from his hand came a giant fire blast that enveloped Freeds whole body. A faint scream could be heard as Freed's body disintergrated completely. Once the fire died down we looked for any trace of Freed we could find but there was nothing left. Freed had been defeated for the last time. Once the boy confirmed his victory he fell flat on his face. He was most definitely unconcious. No one moved for a while just out of amazement at what we had just seen. A random student just came and mutilated Freed when we could barely inflict serious damage. This boy was definitely someone special.

PART 4

When I, Issei Hyoudou, woke up from my unconciousness, I saw Rias, Akeno, Koneko and everyone else from the Gremory group. They had all come to see me wake up? That's unusual. Unless I've been out for multiple days. I then realised that they weren't looking at me but some dude who was in the bed next to me. I also started staring at him but then Asia noticed that I was awake.

"Ise!"

Hearing her say that, everyone's attention turned back to me.

"Are you alright Ise?"

"Are you still in pain?"

Everyone was questioning me until Irina jumped on my bed and hugged me.

"Darling! You risked your life for me! Thank you so much!-"

Irina started thanking me and apologizing to me for making me save here. She really doesn't need to, I will always save my friends. Everyone of them is important to me. Just then I remembered something.

"Hey Rias"

"Yes?"

She replied with happy eyes as if she'd just seen her favorite thing in the world.

"What's going to happen to the school?" will we have to go to a new one since our identities were revealed?"

"Fortunately, Sona and her group were able to alter everyone's memory successfully. But since it would've been too hard to change their memory of today, The Sitri group just went ahead and made everyone forget today ever happened. As of the school. My brother is working overtime to have it repaired as quickly as possible. In the mean time, Sona's group have also sent out newsletters to all the students and parents saying that there has been issues with the school and that there will be a temporary holiday until further notice."

Once Rias was done explaining, The boy in the bed next to me started to wake up. Everyone ran over to his bed and watched him. I didn't know why but I guess he did something of use for Rias to allow him to know our real identities. Rias spoke as soon as he had opened his eyes.

"Have a good sleep there?"

The boy who was still somewhat sleepy replied.

"Y-yeah, sorry about that. I can't control my stamina when it comes to using my arms ability. I must've gone too hard."

Rias laughed a little.

"Well, that's quite the a technique you have there. Say, do you mind telling us your name?"

The boy looked around at everyone smiling at him.

"Kyron, the name's Kyron"

He said with a gratful smile. Rias looked at her group and then back at Kyron.

"Well Kyron, This may be a little sudden but, How would you like to join my peerage and become my [Guardian]."